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Humans pass more viruses to animals, study finds
Researchers analysed nearly 12 million viral genomes.
Twice as many infections involved human-animal transmission than animal-human.

A study has revealed that more viral infections are anthroponotic, meaning that they are transferred from humans to domestic and wild animals, than are zoonotic.

An analysis of viral genome sequences demonstrated that roughly twice as many infections involved human-animal transmission than animal-human.

With many epidemic and pandemics, such as Ebola and Covid-19, resulting from zoonotic transmission, these diseases have often taken precedence as a threat to public health. This has led to humans being considered a sink for viruses, rather than a source.

To compare the amount of zoonotic and anthroponotic diseases, researchers from University College London (UCL) developed methodological tools that would enable them to analyse nearly 12 million viral genomes that were deposited on public databases.

This meant that they could reconstruct evolutionary histories and past host jumps of viruses across 32 viral families, considering which genomes developed mutations during host jumps. This would allow them to quantify where viruses occurred from animal-human, human-animal or animal-animal transmission.

The results highlighted a prevalence of human-animal transmissions, consistent across most viral families. It also discovered even more animal-animal transmissions, not involving humans.

Findings showed that viral host jumps were often related to an increase in genetic changes, or mutations, in the viruses, relative to their continued evolution alongside a host animal.

Viruses with broader host ranges showed weaker signs of adaptation, which suggested that they were inherently more capable of infecting a range of hosts. Other viruses may require more extensive adaptation to infect a new host species.

Prof Francois Balloux, a co-author of the study from the UCL Genetics Institute, said: "We should consider humans just as one node in a vast network of hosts endlessly exchanging pathogens, rather than a sink for zoonotic bugs.

"By surveying and monitoring transmission of viruses between animals and humans, in either direction, we can better understand viral evolution and hopefully be more prepared for future outbreaks and epidemics of novel illnesses, while also aiding conservation efforts.”

The full study can be found in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

Image © Shutterstock

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Free CPD announced for BVNA members

News Story 1
 Zoetis is to present a CPD event for free to members of the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA).

Led by veterinary consultant Ruth Moxon, the one-hour online session is designed to help veterinary nurses discuss parasiticide options with clients. It will advise on structuring recommendations, factors for product choice and moving away from 'selling'.

'How do you recommend parasite treatments to your clients?' will be presented on Tuesday, 20 May at 7.30pm. It is free for BVNA members, with £15.00 tickets for non-members.

Veterinary nurses can email cpd@bvna.co.uk to book their place. 

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News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.